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busy activity; bustle; fuss.
Historical Examples

As the resolution is not easily divisible, we insert the whole of it, making no ado on the score of modesty.
The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus American Anti-Slavery Society

You owe it me, for am I not in part to blame for all this ado?
Bardelys the Magnificent Rafael Sabatini

A roar of unrestrained laughter went up at this witticism, and the orator had some ado to master his wrath.
Captain Calamity Rolf Bennett

I had some ado to keep the joy from my eyes when I heard them planning it.
St. Martin’s Summer Rafael Sabatini

Therefore, consciously, that was what one was in for—for positively organising an ado about Isabel Archer.
The Portrait of a Lady Henry James

And I remember what ado the ushers had with the lads on the training days.
With the King at Oxford Alfred J. Church

Ranulph had some ado not to smile; the speaker was so small and the tone so assured.
Masters of the Guild L. Lamprey

Indians like to get along with the least possible communication and ado.
The Maine Woods Henry David Thoreau

He had said so much to my honour before, that Wendelius was almost making an ado about it.
Letters of John Calvin, Volume II (of 4) Jules Bonnet

It was hopelessly lost and she dare not make any ado or inquiry about it.
Mildred at Roselands Martha Finley

noun
bustling activity; fuss; bother; delay (esp in the phrases without more ado, with much ado)
abbreviation
accumulated day off
n.

late 14c., “conflict, fighting; difficulty, trouble,” compounded from at do, dialectal in Norse influenced areas of England for to do, as some Scandinavian languages used at with infinitive of a verb where Modern English uses to. For sense development, cf. to-do. Meaning “fuss” is from early 15c. Also used in Middle English for “dealings, traffic,” and “sexual intercourse” (both c.1400).

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